IF RUSSELL MOORE IS FIRED, “UNTO US” A TRUMP BAPTIST CONVENTION IS BORN

IF RUSSELL MOORE IS FIRED, “UNTO US” A TRUMP BAPTIST CONVENTION IS BORN

By William Dwight McKissic, Sr.

The first cabinet member that soon-to-be President Donald Trump will fire, may not be in his White House Cabinet. Russell Moore, President of the Ethics, and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC–a cabinet level entity head position within the SBC org chart–will be the first person fired by the direct influence of Donald Trump and his influential supporters within SBC circles, if they are successful in their unprecedented public attempts, to discredit and dismiss from office the most compelling and effective spokesman ever to hold that office in the history of the SBC. The lynch mob in SBC life who is going after Moore are taking their cues from Donald Trump who was among the first to attack Moore with one of his infamous tweets during the primary season:

“Russell Moore is truly a terrible representative of Evangelicals and all of the good they stand for. A nasty guy with no heart!”

What has Russell Moore done to generate such vitriol and hatred from Trump and his supporters and sycophants in SBC life? Moore dared asked the SBC if it is in keeping with their values to support a person for POTUS who mocks the disabled; engages in race baiting; owns strip joints and casinos; admits to sexual predatory behaviors; wants to create a Muslim registry, which violates the religious freedom beliefs of the SBC; and speaks of unlawfully targeting non-combatant in war acts. One would think that a person assigned to address the SBC regarding ethical issues is fulfilling their assignment in addressing these matters.

Future Supreme Court Judges and Reversing Gay Marriage were believed to have a better chance of lining up with SBC values under a Trump Administration. Therefore, many SBC personalities argued in spite of Trump’s misgivings and failures in the aforementioned areas, he’s still worthy of support because of who he might appoint to the Supreme Court who would reverse Roe vs Wade and Gay Marriage. To which Russell Moore responded, how can we count on Donald Trump to keep his word on these matters any more than anyone named Mrs. Trump could depend on him to keep his word to them? This was a brilliant and prophetic response.

Shortly after he was elected, Trump announced that Gay Marriage was settled law, and he would not revisit that matter. Ironically, Pastor Robert Jeffress at FBC, Dallas agreed with Trump on this. Go figure? He has already gone back on his word even before he took office, and many SBC persons voted for him under the delusion that Trump would somehow reverse or, at least, redress gay marriage. With a majority Republican House, Senate, soon to be Supreme Court—and of course occupying the White House–there is absolutely no reason why gay marriage can’t and shouldn’t be reversed; other than Trump doesn’t want to reverse it. Now, a prominent SBC leader is backing Trump in this bait and switch campaign tactic. Rather than holding Trump accountable for his pre-election position supporting traditional marriage, they’d rather spend their time attacking Moore. Again, Moore warned us that Trump’s history did not lend itself to counting on him to keep his word. You would think he would be given credit for his insight. Instead, they’re crushing him. If President Elect Trump—not candidate Trump—view is that gay marriage is settled law, why is it not his view that Roe vs Wade is settled law, using the same logic? Already Moore has proven to be 50% accurate in the lack of trust worthiness of Donald Trump on an issue important to Evangelicals—gay marriage. If and when Donald Trump says the same thing about Roe vs Wade, Moore will be 100% correct in saying that Donald Trump was not a trustworthy candidate in addressing matters important to Southern Baptists. On what grounds then are the ones calling for Moore’s dismissal upset?

Make no mistake about it. The union between the SBC and the Republican Convention is an unhealthy and unholy one, particularly with Trump as President. But that would be equally as true with anyone else as President and equally as true if such a union existed with the SBC and The Democratic Party. It is detrimental to our witness, evangelism, discipleship, church planting, race relations and the identity of our seminaries. This is a malignancy that must be excised from our Convention.

To fire Russell Moore though, cements and consummate the relationship between the SBC and The Republican Party. We shouldn’t give Trump that kind of influence over our Convention. We shouldn’t by default say to the public we value loyalty to the Republican brand over a critical evaluation of a Republican nominee for President.

It’s not enough to say that Russell Moore was speaking against the majority of the SBC and those who pay his salary, as a reason to silence his voice. The Bible is inerrant and infallible, the SBC is not. What’s been missing from SBC history to often was a Russell Moore.

When the majority of the SBC embraced the diabolical institution of slavery, we needed a Russell Moore, even if he was being paid by the SBC. When the majority of the SBC denied women the right to vote as messengers within the SBC annual meetings, and supported laws forbidding women the right to vote in the secular realm, we needed a Russell Moore. When the majority of the SBC voted to support Jim Crow laws and would not support Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement, we needed a Russell Moore. When the majority of the messengers in the ‘mid ’70’s voted in a SBC annual meeting to support abortion, we needed a Russell Moore. When the IMB created unbiblical landmark baptismal policies and unbiblical policies restricting missionaries’ private worship in 2005, God raised up a Wade Burleson to prophetically address these matters; and he was publicly maligned and marginalized, and now the same attempt is being made toward Russell Moore. In 2015, everything Wade Burleson was asking the IMB to do, they did: Return to the pre-2005 private prayer policies, and the prior baptismal policies. Now that they have done so, Wade Burleson is owed an apology, because their actions now prove he was right from the beginning.

SBC, are we going to now make the same mistake with Russell Moore as we did with all of the aforementioned matters that we later reversed policies on? Are we really going to place that much stock in Trump and choose Trump over Moore?

Honestly, a convention that would even consider this is a severely spiritually sick convention. If it were not for a great health insurance plan that I appreciate (connected to GuideStone), and a small life insurance and small retirement account that may be useful at some point, I’d seriously consider whether I could actually belong to a convention that’s so invested and identified in every way with the Republican Party and Donald Trump. To fire Russell Moore will have far-reaching consequences than most persons realize. It defines being SBC as also being Republican, or at least not publicly criticizing a Republican candidate. Minorities tend not to be Republican because they view Democrats as being more sensitive to social and economic justice, equality and fairness issues. They also view these matters as life issues and equally as important as abortion and gay marriage issues. Russell Moore is one of the few Southern Baptists that really have a heartfelt identification and understanding of social justice issues from a minority perspective. There are those who think that this backlash against him is rooted in his outspokenness on race issues and police brutality issues. Russell Moore really feels our pain. In many ways he is being treated as a racial minority by the Convention in this situation. So to fire Russell Moore is to say to minorities, you are only welcome in the SBC if you remain silent regarding your political views. Seriously? Is that what you really want? If so, continue with this lynch party and proposed firing. And Congratulations!!! You will have just birth THE TRUMP BAPTIST CONVENTION.

Russell Moore has spoken as a prophet. The late Professor Jack Gray defined the spiritual gift of prophecy as the ability to communicate a particular truth, to a particular people, at a particular time. This is what Moore has done. To fire Russell Moore is in effect to make the statement that the gift of prophecy is unwelcome among Southern Baptists if it conflicts with our politics. Russell Moore would have gotten the same kind of treatment in SBC life had he spoken prophetically against slavery in 1845-1863 as he is getting now. Southern Baptists can and should do better than this. I pray that we drop this vendetta against Russell Moore. He has asked for an apology if he was misunderstood or crossed over a line. Let’s forgive him and move on. Threatening to withhold funds over a critique of Donald Trump is too small of an issue for us to divide over. During this yuletide season, let’s practice our faith and seek peace on earth and in the SBC and good will toward all men. Brethren, let’s drop our swords and be The Southern Baptist Great Commission Convention and not the Trump Baptist Convention.

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It seems that Soul Freedom is a cherished Southern Baptist Doctrine, except when your Soul Freedom disagrees with my Soul Freedom. Then I’m out for your head.

I suppose this points to the weakness of the disciple-making in the SBC at large (Not that it’s the only clue).

And not that I agree with Dr. Moore. I voted for Mr. Trump, as I see my obligation to be a disciple and rendering unto Caesar as a mandate to do the best I can to see the candidate elected who has the best chance of doing the best job in office.

Now, it used to be that immorality was a mark against politicians, as it could be used to blackmail them. Sadly, that’s not the case any longer. And as to third party write-in candidates: no matter how hard I rooted for the Yankees in the World Series this year, and no matter how much money I bet on them, they were not going to win the Series. My breath and my money would simply have been wasted.

But the bottom line is that Dr. Moore’s opinions and pronouncements pose no threat to me, or my position on these things, at all. And that’s when folks get most upset …. when you and I disagree and you may be right, and I might be wrong. And it certainly does not interfere with our friendship.

Same is true for you, Dwight. Your opinion or view of Mr. Trump or Mr. Obama simply does not make any difference to me, other than the considerable extent to which I might learn from you.

The best quote from your very well stated post, IMHO:
“It’s not enough to say that Russell Moore was speaking against the majority of the SBC and those who pay his salary, as a reason to silence his voice. The Bible is inerrant and infallible, the SBC is not. What’s been missing from SBC history to often was a Russell Moore.”

A couple of comments.

One, regardless of the opinion of a “majority” of Southern Baptists, if indeed such a determination can even be made, one of the key points of Baptist polity comes from a historic and consistent belief in soul freedom, and that each believer stands before God responsible for his or her own self. Therefore, no Baptist ever speaks for any other Baptist. So the ERLC, and Russell Moore, are not in a position to “speak to our government on behalf of the majority of Southern Baptists”, as some of his critics have suggested.

Two, the ERLC has a responsibility to inform churches when it comes to the things which affect religious liberty, and to address issues related to ethics in this same sphere. Issues of ethics were at the forefront in this election, and Moore not only correctly discerned them, but effectively addressed them with the kind of honesty, and researched accuracy, that was expected of him. It’s unfortunate that the truth, and the integrity to tell it, isn’t valued as much as simple agreement with the perceived “majority”.

Well stated. This problem exists because most SBC’ers lack your understanding. Hopefully, this controversy will result in educating many regarding soul freedom(which Moore is entitled too as well), and the responsibility of The President of The ERLC.

Thank you for your bold words, Pastor McKissic. I agree wholeheartedly. In particular, I appreciate your explanation of what this backlash against Dr. Moore says to minorities in the SBC.

If I may be so bold to state a criticism, however, it is with your statement:

“If it were not for a great health insurance plan that I appreciate (connected to GuideStone), and a small life insurance and small retirement account that may be useful at some point, I’d seriously consider whether I could actually belong to a convention that’s so invested and identified in every way with the Republican Party and Donald Trump.”

I would prefer that you not had not included this in your post, as it could give the impression that you would place personal monetary benefits over your spiritual convictions. Knowing you, I know that is not the case. But your words here could leave that impression with someone who doesn’t know you personally.

So great to hear from you. Sounds like your love for Jesus is as strong as ever.

Appreciate your affirmation here. Accept your critique & valid criticism. Honestly, if the SBC departed from an orthodox doctrinal belief I would(in spite of financial loss) have to remove myself from among them. But to remove myself because of political & personnel differences-and have difficulty securing life insurance & a comparable health insurance plan at my age simply wouldn’t be wise of me. Again, if they adopted some major belief system on a primary theological/doctrinal issue that contradicted the Scripture, then you are correct: I would as a matter of conviction not remain apart of the convention.

I am with Mike. I was in full agreement with you, Pastor Mckissic, until that blurb about the benefits. As the wife of an sbc pastor, I would sooner see us leave the sbc than stay for a benefits package should they dismiss Russell Moore.

Aside from that though, as I said, I fully agree with you. These are sad days in the SBC.

If enough evangelicals had listened to Russell Moore rather than thinking for themselves, we would now be looking at a Hillary presidency to begin in just a few weeks time. Yeah, Russell Moore is some prophet.

Russell Moore is emblematic of what’s wrong with modern American Christianity. He is a liberal, which explains his arrogance, moral preening, and the fact that the New York times loves to publish him (and he loves it too, no doubt).

Recall that Jesus Christ was impressed with the arrogant, sanctimonious pharisees precisely zero times. In fact, he condemned them, but apparently Baptists know better. We’re friends of the world now, and if there’s anyone who God loves, it’s people who are friends with the world. Right?

It should also be pointed out that the SBC is a parachurch organization. It is not Biblically ordained, and it therefore has not a shred of Biblical authority. As such, Russell Moore likewise has zero Biblical authority. You will find nothing at all instructing the Body of Believers to institute a denomination, a denominational superstructure, or an ERCL. Ethics and Religious Liberty? Why do we need a Pope for that? I thought that’s what Scripture was for.

Russell Moore is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Not for nothing did the NT writers repeatedly warn about such enemies within the body of Christ. They have always been a challenge for Christians in every age, and where discernment is lacking, they wreak their havoc. It is every Christians duty to send all such enemies packing without apology. Fecklessness is un-Christian, and had the first generations of Christians been even half as weak as the modern generation, Christianity would have already been a forgotten footnote. Thank the Lord that His providence provided His body with those who stood strong, put on the Whole Armor of God, fought the good fight, did not befriend the world or adopt its humanism, and did not think themselves wiser than the Holy Spirit.

Russell Moore stated that “what it means to be Baptist is to support soul freedom for everyone.” It’s interesting that that assertion is not stated in any SBC charter. It is manmade. It is an idol. And there is not a shred of Scriptural support for it. Russell Moore believes it the duty of Baptists to help spread the pagan filth of satan, but Scripture instructs the Christian to do just the opposite. Your ideological idol will escort you to a red hot hell for eternity. This is your warning. Repent or perish.

I grew up in an SBC church. Both sides of my family grew up in SBC churches. As did both sides of their parents. I’ve heard thousands of sermons and Bible lessons, and yet somehow I never knew all that time that being Baptist was not about the commission of Christ, but rather about the commission of Russell Moore. He would have us import Babylon itself, under the phony manmade guise of “soul freedom.”

As I said, Russell Moore is a liberal. He is overflowing with “the love of Christ” for non-whites and Muslims, but in his warped theology there must be s a 67th book of the Bible that prohibits any of that “love of Christ” being extended to White people. And yet history shows the open-eyed observer that Christ Himself actually DOES extend his love to White people, really rather demonstrably and obviously. But Russell Moore knows better.

While the SBC hemorrhages membership, Russell Moore claims that Muslims are our “mission field.” I think it might be interesting if someone were to ask Mr. Moore precisely how many Muslim enclaves – either in the U.S. or in Europe – he has ever visited in any sort of missionary capacity, or even just as a casual observer of this satanic people. Perhaps he should set the example for us all?

And maybe he should visit the White teenage girls in Rotherham, England who were turned into sexual toys by Pakistani Muslim men, FOR Pakistani Muslim Men. Might Russell Moore visit the families of those killed in the countless Muslim terror attacks spanning the decades, of even just the past few years? How about the hundred of White German women raped in public on New Year’s Eve last year in Cologne, Germany? Has Pope Moore seen the Youtube video of the lone White German woman surrounded by hundreds of Muslim men who were forcing her down into the subway station, as she let our awful screams, knowing she was about to get gang raped by Russell Moore’s mission field.

And what about all the no-go zones in Europe, and now springing up in the United States? Maybe Mr. Moore could try handing out some Jack Chick tracts and free Hillsong CD’s in one of these places and report back to us.

Russell Moore called the wall that Americans want build on our southern border our “golden calf.” This “prophet’s” theology is awesome. It could fit on a matchbook.

Russell Moore is an open borders liberal democrat who serves on the globalist Immigration Table organization, which is funded by George Soros. Feel free to look it up.

The SBC cut back on missions recently, but Russell Moore makes a six-figure salary and controls a four million dollar budget.

According to a Pew survey, Baptists are one of the most thoroughly feminized religious groups. They are second only to Methodists, and it’s almost a tie. Real men that love the Lord and who serve Him in an effort to reflect the image of God in man through Christ, really have no interest in joining an increasingly liberal, emasculated, feminized, carnal, worldly, seeker-friendly and un-Scriptural denominational body that pays milquetoast pharisees to insult them. That is why the SBC lost over 200,000 members last year. But don’t worry, Russell Moore can make up for those losses when he starts converting the Muslims.

It may be that God is going to use this Russell Moore controversy to give the SBC the civil war that she needs to separate the Union from the Confederacy. That’s so desperately needed here. Because, quite frankly if you believe the things you say here, how can two walk together except they agree? From that angle, I’m grateful for your comment here. Thanks.

I stated a number of easily observable, verifiable facts – so of course I believe the things I said. To believe contrary to the facts is to believe a lie, and to believe a lie is contrary to God.

Although my post was a lot longer than I would have preferred, I had trouble even keeping it that “short,” as the long list of rotten fruit produced by Russell Moore in a very short time is impossible to summarize with any notion of brevity. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and when one is presented with facts which support this assessment, one either has discernment or else one does not. Praying for it might help.

As for the “Union vs. Confederacy” analogy, this is yet more of the cheap, liberal, race-bating garbage that helped hand Trump his victory, and is also partially why the SBC is hemorrhaging members. But feel free to keep it up if you feel you’re doing the Lord’s work by replacing the Gospel of Christ with the gospel of the Social Justice Warrior. Believe it or not, they are not in any way the same thing.

The separation that actually needs to happen if the SBC is to not follow the Methodists, Episcopalians, and other liberal apostates down the wide path to hell is for those followers of Christ to remain, and the followers of Russell Moore to go start their own carnal cult where Scripture is twisted to align with the tenets of godless liberalism, rather than it being rightly regarded as something to which we align ourselves.

As for me, I’ve left the SBC – probably permanently, though I did it some years ago before I’d ever even heard of Moore. I left after visiting a carnal megachurch I decided to visit pummeled me one morning with lousy rock music, a hipster “worship team,” a disgusting light show, and the most lightweight “sermon” I’ve ever heard. The seeker-friendly satanism spreading throughout the SBC worships unregenerate man, rather than a Holy God.

Well, this piece certainly reflects some of the most absurd, self-righteous and disjointed religio-political logic I’ve ever heard. Get the impression that Hillary supporting Dwight and foot-in-mouth Russell Moore are far more about self-promotion than anything “baptist” or “Christian” for that matter.

This was a difficult political season. As is often the case these days, neither party ran candidates (in the general election) that represent the best and brightest America has to offer. I felt that voting for Trump would be the most effective path to preventing a Hillary Clinton presidency. Conservative Republicans, evangelical and otherwise, were deeply dividing on supporting Trump as their candidate. I cannot fault anyone for choosing to vote for or against him and simply cannot believe Moore’s position is in jeopardy for urging us to count this cost before casting a ballot. I voted for Donald Trump but there were very compelling reasons not to. I imagine the many Christians of every flavor voted in the election without casting a ballot for president. The election is over; it’s time to pray for another, our nation, and proceed to do the best we can with what we’ve got.

You just expressed the feelings & sentiments of the majority of Christians in this election. Agree with everything you’ve stated here. Thanks for a balanced, fair & reasoned comment. It breeds unity, trust, and civility, which is what we need in America again.

The totality of apostate awfulness exemplified by Russell Moore is more than enough to show him the door. Even if one were to remove his lecturing of Christians regarding Trump, he should have been sent packing after aiding and abetting – under the auspices of the SBC no less – the enemies of Christ to build a godforsaken mosque in an American community that did not want one. Such actions are contrary to the commission of Christ, and those who do not understand this are probably unregenerate, as the Holy Spirit is unlikely to allow any actual Christian to champion the goals of satan in his lust for world domination.

Russell Moore is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and those who support him are very likely in the camp of the five foolish virgins.

So Moore is an apostate, the SBC built a mosque, and I am (probably) not a born again believer. You thought it over very carefully and these are your arguments for firing Russell Moore? Because I’m championing the goals of Satan in his lust for world dominion?

Clark, as I said quite clearly in an earlier post, there is a long list of rotten fruit produced by Russell Moore in a very short period of time. If you’re unable to do any research on this, despite your obvious access to the internet, I don’t know what to tell you, but I could take away half the evidence against him and still have more than enough.

If you are without the discernment required to know a wolf in sheep’s clothing when you see it, then it is up to you to figure out why that may be. Scripture is not unclear on these matters.

So yes, if, after coming to the knowledge that Russell Moore is aiding and abetting the enemies of Christ, you still cannot bring yourself to adhere to Scripture and acknowledge that he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing – rather than a “prophet, like the blind liberals infesting the SBC continue to insist – then I’d say you’re in big trouble.

It is not surprising the amount of anger and vitriol that have been heaped on Russell Moore. After all, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town” (Matthew 13:57). Mr Moore’s hometown is the SBC, and no one wants to hear a word of prophecy from one of their own. Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern; Elijah was in hiding from Jezebel; Jesus was ridiculed in his town and ultimately crucified. We should not be surprised, although the hatred does sting. He has unflinchingly spoken the truth about Donald Trump, as is his right in this country. Instead of providing evidence that would show Mr Moore is wrong, his opponents have resorted to calling him a liberal, as though being a liberal strips a person of any credibility. The job of the church and the prophets is not to align themselves with a particular political party, especially if that party seeks to further discriminate against the “least of these.” The job of the church and the prophets is to hold the government accountable to ensure justice and fair treatment for all; to speak up on behalf of the voiceless; to fulfill Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 and to ensure that the government does not impede that work; finally, to resist corrupt governments and unjust laws that affect other people. The church in general, and the SBC in particular, should not seek to be aligned with the new president or anyone who holds the highest office. Those alliances lead to corruption in the Body of Christ and to atrocities committed in his name, such as the Inquisition, slavery, witch hunts. The Pharisees chose to identify themselves with the Romans when they said, “We have no king but Caesar,” because it was the best way to get rid of the troublesome Jesus. Maybe the SBC needs to ask itself, “Is siding with Donald Trump worth the loss of our witness in this world?”

You took a verse that contextually applies to Christ and the Biblical prophets and proof-texted it to apply to a godless liberal who has not a single solitary ounce of Scripturally-ordained authority within the body of Christ.

The individual congregations (churches) are defined by the NT writers as the one and only legitimate expression of the body of believers in Christ, at the local level, and autonomous, and the Scripturally-ordained authority goes no higher than the elders – again, all at the local level.

There exists not one shred of authority for parachurch organizations such as the SBC, nor of course for the phony ERLC office run by Mr. Moore, to the tune of about four million wasted dollars per year. Ethics and Religious Liberty are something provided by the sufficiency of Scripture. Not Russell Moore.

Moreover, Russell Moore is hardly a victim of “vitriol.” He has himself only to blame for the blowback he’s been getting, as he foolishly chose to direct his haughty disrespect and contempt towards the very people who pay his salary and fund his little kingdom. He placed himself above those who he deems to be beneath him, and now he is reaping the whirlwind.

You’re also a liar. Russell Moore’s critics have provided plenty of refutation against his fallacious argumentation, poor logic, and overall liberal, and quite un-Scriptural, world view. I can provide links if you’re feeling brave.

No one is “siding with Trump.” Again, that’s another lie. Liberals lie, which is why YOU lie. A vote for a candidate is a vote for a set of policies and a vote against another set of policies. A vote is an acknowledgment of the present political reality. A vote for Mitt Romney four years ago did not magically make me a Mormon, nor did it mean that I agreed with the Mormon blasphemies regarding the truth of Christ. But this year a brand new standard sprang up within “Christianity” that had never existed before. And wouldn’t you know it, this brand new voting standard was concocted by liberals posing as “Christians.”

It didn’t work. Do yourself a favor and get over it already.

For those who want to morally preen, knock yourself out. Go ahead and thank God that you are not like those lowly publicans who voted to keep Hillary from swamping the United States with 3rd world Catholics and Muslims. After all, if there’s anything that the Lord must’ve wanted, it’d be that we let the enemies of Christ overwhelm the founding stock of America and turn it into despised minority in its own country. That’s the “love of Christ,” according to Pope Moore and his sorry sycophants.

Somebody need to check facts and definitions. Big difference between a “prophet” and a “pundit”. Moore has consistently behaved and spoken as the latter. Proof is in the record….as well as in the backlash.

Reblogged this on DIGITAL EBENEZER and commented:
This a thought provoking piece about how we need Russell Moore in our convention. I wouldn’t consider leaving for the aforementioned reasons in this blog. #ISupportRussellMoore

I know that I am late to the party but…Neither party presented the American people with a viable candidate for President…having said that…There is NO WAY ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH THAT I WILL EVER VOTE FOR A BABY-KILLER…hence my vote for Trump, who has rewarded my vote by the appointment of Neil Gorsuch and various other lower court justicies just like him…It is real easy to get your point across without insulting people, which is what Moore did…not going to jump on him, but wonder why he would feel the need to do that…